Group Tours in Haifa
For those planning an organized group visit to the gardens in Haifa, it is possible to choose among four different tours. Each tour offers a unique experience by enabling your group to discover a different part of the gardens and to learn about a different aspect of the story behind them.
Panorama Tour
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The Panorama Tour descends through the gardens from the crest of Mount Carmel to the level of the Shrine of the Báb along paved paths and stairs. Your group will pass through both formal and informal parts of the gardens and enjoy magnificent views of the city, the Galilee Hills and the Mediterranean Sea.
The guide will tell your group about the design and maintenance of the gardens, as well as their significance to Bahá’ís. They will learn about the history of this community, how they came to build their world centre on Mount Carmel, and what activities are carried on in the buildings located in the gardens, including the shrine.
The tour takes approximately 45 minutes and ends at the main entrance to the gardens on Hatzionut Avenue. It can be supplemented by a stop-over at the Visitor Centre, which may include the screening of a fifteen-minute informational film (in Hebrew or English) or a visit to a historical exhibit. Since the slope is steep, this tour is not recommended for people with walking difficulties or health problems.
Shrine Gardens Tour
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The Shrine Gardens Tour begins with the screening of the introductory film about the Bahá’í World Centre, after which your group will cross the bridge over Hatzionut Avenue, tour the gardens surrounding the Shrine of the Báb and take in the view of the German Colony, Haifa port and the bay. Depending on the time of day and the interest of the group, it may be possible to visit the interior of the shrine. After leaving this area, the tour continues through the gardens and ends on Shifra Street.
The tour guide will point out the different types of vegetation and landscaping as you pass through old and new areas of the garden. He or she will also explain the significance of the shrine and its setting to Bahá’ís while relating the dramatic story of the Báb, which inspired the architects, builders and gardeners who made the place what it is today.
This tour takes from 45 minutes to an hour. While it involves both ascending and descending stairs, it is significantly less strenuous than the Panorama Tour. For this reason, it may be suitable for seniors and school groups of younger children.
Arc Gardens Tour
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Starting at the main entrance to the Bahá’í World Centre complex on Golomb Avenue, your group will tour the campus of administrative buildings constructed in the neo-classical style along an arc-shaped path in the steeply sloping gardens. The guide will explain the architectural concepts expressed in the site design, and your group will learn about the institutions housed in the different buildings and the Bahá’ís’ unique principles of community governance. Continuing on, the tour will cross from the western side of the administrative campus to the terraced gardens and walk down two levels to the Visitor Centre. There, members of the group will view the informational film and have an opportunity to ask any questions they wish.
This tour lasts approximately 60 minutes and is particularly suitable for groups that would like to learn more about the Bahá’í’ community and how it functions. Among all the Haifa tours, this is probably the least demanding physically, and it is possible to follow an alternative route that avoids all stairs. It is also possible to add a visit to the Shrine of the Báb after the session in the Visitor Centre.
Upward Tour
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This tour begins at the lower entrance plaza in the German Colony, at the junction of Ben Gurion Avenue and Hagefen Street. After an orientation in the plaza, the guide will lead the group on their ascent to the Shrine of the Báb. Sometimes the itinerary leads up the steep, straight stairways that form the geometrical axis of the gardens, and at other times, it detours along the stone-paved paths that wind their way through the informal side gardens, discovering unexpected views and secluded areas seldom seen by visitors. As the shrine draws closer, the city falls away, yielding to panoramic views of the bay framed by the Krayiot, ‘Akko and Rosh Hanikra and backed by the Galilee Hills.
The ascending path enables participants to appreciate the perspective of the architect, who designed the terraces as an approach to the shrine. The guide will help the group to understand the pilgrimage experience in relation to the mystical thought and practices of various religious traditions.
The tour concludes with a tour of the gardens around the Shrine of the Báb and a visit to the shrine itself, if desired. It ends at the main entrance to the gardens on Hatzionut Avenue. The duration of the tour is approximately 60 minutes, and it is designed for people who are physically fit.
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